I went to a childrens art exhibition and saw pictures by very young artists displayed on the walls. They all had one common story to tell. Freedom I made a point of asking some of the children whose work was on display, and a few other questions. There was this painting of a little girl playing on an empty beach. Is this you? I asked the young artist. She nodded. Where is everybody else? I am alone, she explained, I always wanted to be alone on the beach when I play. The next picture that caught my attention was a colourful one with this big rainbow hanging over a street. A boy perched on the roof of a house was reaching for it. Yes, he said it was him; trying to touch the rainbow. My parents wouldnt let me go up the roof when the rainbow appears, he told me. Is painting a message to parents on how children would like to spend their spare time? It appears to be. It also appears that children express their worse fears or aspirations on what they draw. A six-year old in the same exhibition drew a picture of a three-eyed monster and a hero piercing arrows in its body. The monster comes when I sleep, he told me. He knew his parents could not get rid of his fear of the monster and he had to deal with the 'problem himself. I was fascinated to see a nine-year-old boy standing next to a flashy sports car, which he was proudly exhibiting. I would like to buy that when I grow up, he said. All the paintings were a personal reflection of themselves and how they would like to deal with their fears and hopes. It could be a silent cry to attract attention from parents. A child lives in two worlds - the one that is held close to his chest and the other that the parents know about and control. The pictures they draw give us an unconscious glimpse of their inner self so we can understand them better. We may need to react in the proper way by encouraging them to talk about what they see, hear and hope. A graphic representation is a 'loud voice when the spoken word is too weak to be heard above the roar of constant restrictions from parents. Adults are not really different to how we would like to see ourselves. If I draw a picture, then I would probably end up with a finished work of a nice little house amidst a peaceful surrounding with a river meandering in the background. You too would draw your own version on how you would like to live your life. You see a different image when you look in the mirror - that first gray hair or a wrinkle that grows deeper - but your longings never grow old with your body. Soon the children of today would learn the hard way that they need more than a brush and canvas to paint a perfect picture. They would also learn that their fears might be replaced by optimism, and despair by hope. Whatever happens, it is important that their personal gallery is never deprived of a good attempt - at least once in their childhood - as an investment towards the road to adulthood. Khaleej Times